This overview workshop presented by OTBC and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is an overview of how to start, common mistakes to avoid, and an introduction to startup funding. Deliverables: a startup to-do list, and a directory of startup resources that shows you where you can find help, no matter what kind of a startup idea you have. Included Tools: Startup Checklist; Oregon Entrepreneur Resources Directory.

How to Validate you're Startup Idea

In this session we will discuss how to capture your critical business model assumptions, and how to test those assumptions so you can decide whether your idea is attractive enough to pursue. Included tools: Lean Business Model Canvas.

Avoid Common Mistakes and Protect your Company

This seminar describes steps you should take to protect you company ownership and your company's intellectual property (IP). We provide information about IP protection (copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets) and we describe steps you should take to protect your company stock. Throughout, we'll provide examples of the common mistakes that early stage entrepreneurs make, and how you can avoid those mistakes.

About Stock

Early on, team compensation is likely to be in the form of ownership in the company. It's important to understand how that works. This seminar tackles these common questions: What if you have an LLC instead of a corporation? What is common versus preferred stock? How do you decide how much stock goes to each team member? What happens if a team member doesn't work out? How is founder ownership diluted when the company takes on investors? How do you minimize dilution? Can founders retain control? How do investors determine you company's value? Included Tools: Stock (Capitalization) Spreadsheet for forecasting value and dilution.

Create a Realistic Funding Plan

When you are at the Idea stage, it's not likely that investors will be willing to invest. This seminar reviews the sources of funding that are available to early stage funding. We then describe the kind of headway investors typically require before they are ready to invest. Included Tools: OTBC Sources of Funding graphic.

Create an Effective Investor Pitch

We suggest that entrepreneurs not worry about pitching until your company is investor ready. But when the time is right, create a truly effective pitch that combines the right preparation, content, delivery and follow-up. In this seminar, we describe how to do that. Included Tools: OTBC Pitch Checklist